Vulcanizer



July 14, 1942. w. H. LoNGs'rREET vULcANIzER File Feb. 24, 1940 2 sheets-sheet `1 l. E. .l

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VULCANIZER Filed Feb. .24,y 1940 2 sheets-sheet? Patented July 14, 1942 UTE PATENT OFFICE VULCANIZEB,

Walter Il. Longstreet, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Acme Air Appliance Company, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 24, 1940, Serial No. 320,648

` 12 Claims. This invention relates to vulcanizers, and more especially to vulcanizers primarily adapted for' usefin vulcanizing rubber valve stems to inner tubes of pneumatic tires and the like.

In recent years, rubber valve stems have gone into such extensive use that at the present time their use has become practically exclusive and the valve stem as a result of damage or deteri-` oration of the rubber. Rubber valve stems are now readily obtainable on the market, particularly in accessory stores and in service shops and in filling stations where tire repair services are maintained. Usually each new valve stemis sold complete with the valve insides mounted therein and a dust cap or cover on the end of the same which encloses the valve insides. Since quick service is essential in establishments engaged in tire and tube repair service, the attendant, most often through oversight or otherwise, usually applies the new valve stem to the inner tube without removing the valve insides and sometimes 'eventhe dust cap, such application being made by means of a vulcanizer of a type'especially designed to vulcanlze valve stems. Where this occurs, there is a tendency for the heat of vulcanization to injure the valve insides as by softening, deforming or otherwise damaging the small rubber seal or seat which forms a part of the valve. insides. This is due to the fact that the rubber valve stem is usually provided with a tubular metal core projecting a substantial distance through the stem and in which the valve insides are disposed, the outer end of the core projecting beyond the corresponding end of the to be. attached to the inner tube, while at the same time maintaining the outer end of the valve stem, and preferably a substantial length of the valve stem, relatively cool during the vulcanizing operation.

To the above endvmy improved vulcanizer generally includes a base on which a heating unit of a suitable type, preferably electrically operated, is mounted in such a manner that the conduction of heat from the heater unit tothe base is reduced to`a The heater unit and base are each provided with a central opening in register with each other so as'to receivethe valve stem in an inverted position, that is, with the outer end of the valve stem in which the valve insides are normally located, disposed below the base of the valve stern, a'nd the base of the valve stem resting upon the upper vulcanizing surface of the heater unit aforesaid. As usual in vulcanizers of this general type, a pressure platen is adjustably mounted above the heater unit so that the inner tube may be clamped firmly against the base of the valve stem when the latter is in position for carrying out the vulcanizing operation, and this invention also contemplates certain improvements in the mounting and adjusting instrumentalities associated with the pressure platen, as will hereinafter become more fully apparent. I

To attain the important stem cooling feature which ycharacterizes this invention, the base of -the vulcanizer is constructed so that it has a substantial depth or thickness, making the comused in the trade. correspondingly the opening preferably enlarged at its upper end andleads rubber stem for threadedly receiving the dust cap or closure above referred to. BeingL made of metal,` the core quickly absorbs the heat during the vulcanization and will retain the heat for a substantial lengthV of time unlesssome provision is made for dissipating this heat which may reach as high as 300 F. or thereabouts in the use of modern day electric vulcanizers.

Having the foregoing conditions in mind, one of therprimary objects-of the present invention is to provide an improved vulcanizer which is'so constructed and arranged that thevulcanizing heat isvsubstantially confined to the zone at the through the base and into which the Valve stem projects when in vulcanizing position, is of substantial length, and this opening in the base is Vcirculation of -cool air is maintainedy by the chimney effect just described, and it is -to be particularly noted that the coldestk air is always initially ydirected into contact with the outer (lower) 'endf ofthe valve stem where'- the greatest cooling-effect is most desirable, and before the air has had time enough 'to be heated toany material extent by the heat radiated from the heater unit. Since heated air tends to rise, the 'heat developed by the heater unit cannot dow in a downward direction below the heater unit for' any substantial distance; henceI the nest is conned to therzone oi the base o! the valve stem where the highest temperature is desired to produce the vulcanization, and the opposite end of the valve stem is always maintained cool by virtue of a strong circulation of only cold or l relatively cool air about the same and towards the base oi the stem. This feature o! my invention is, I believe. a material departure from and improvement over the prior practices in the vulc art. 1

A further important object of my invention to provide an improved mounting for the preasure platen of the vulcr s: mounting being oi such a cter that the pressure platen may be quickly moved to an outof-the-way position, thus eliminating the laborious and time-taking operation of the usual pressure screw, which in my vulcanizer is relied on only to obtain the nal pressure adjustment and initial release thereof.

- More specifically stated, my improved, mountable abutment member carried by the base and operatively engageable with and shiitable away from the abutment on the pivotal platen support.

Other and further objects and advantages of species forced by lateral ribs to strengthen the same. The base i is preferably so constructed that it may be conveniently mounted upon a work bench. table, or other supporting surface, and to this end, I have illustrated in Figure 5 a simple and practical detachable mounting in which l represents a flat pad on the base i having its lateral edges inclined as at 1', 'I' to give it a more or leas dovetailed shape in transverse cross section. This pad I is adapted to be slidingly received in a bracket which is fastened to the work bench or table 9 by any suitable iastenings such as one or more screws I0. The bracket 8 is provided with a dovetailed channel II generally corresponding to the shape of the pad 'l and the walls oi the channel il preferably converge towards one end of the bracket so as to enable the pad l to be wedged therein with la tight fit when it is slid into -the bracket 8 from one end of the latter. A thumb screw I2 or other equivaient locking device may also be provided if desired to releasably secure the pad 'I in the bracket e as will be obvious in Figure 5.

the invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof dened by the appended claims.

In thedrs.:

Figure l is a view oi a vulcanizer constructed in accordance with my invention, the vulcanizer being shown partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, with a rubber valve stem and inner tube disposed therein for the perfomance of a typical vulcanizing operation, and also showing in broken lines the pressure platen support and associated parts in their released position;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the vulcanizer base, the outline of the heater unit being shown in broken lines in the relation which this unit occupies when mounted on the base;

Figure 3 is a view of the vulcanizer assembly in front elevation with the parts in the positions assumed during the vulcanization of' a rubber valve stem to an inner tube, the valve stem being shown in dotted lines. v

Figure 4 is a view generally similar to Figure 3, but looking towards the rear of the vulcanizer;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical. sectional view .taken through the base of the vulcanizer and showing the preferred manner of removably attaching the base to a work bench or other supporting surface,

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings, wherein i generally denotes the base of the vulcanizer, 2 the heater unit, 3 the pressure platen, d the pressure screw, and i5 the pressure platen support which is pivotally connected to the base I at 8. Most of these parts may be formed as simple metal castings, suitably rein- Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be seen that the base I is considerably narrower in width than the heater unit 2', the latter preferably having a generally circular form as shown in Figure 2, and being of relatively shallow depth. The primary reason for this relationship just referred to is to provide widely spaced supporting surfaces I 3, I 3 at the upper side of the base I on which the heater unit rests,` with contact between the heater unit and base at correspondingly widely spaced points. This has the distinct advantageof reducing the heat conduction from the heater unit to the base to a minimum, and at the same time leaves the space below the overhanging sides oi the heater unit at opposite sides of the base, relatively unobstructed.

At the forward end of the base i and intermediate the supporting surfaces I3, I3, the base is enlarged into a generally tubular form, as indicated at I d, providing a vertical axially elongated opening I 5 through the base from top to bottom. The size of the opening I5 is proportioned so that it is substantially larger than the size of the valve stem which is designated I6 in the drawings. The upper end off the opening I5 terminates in a recess of upwardly and outwardly diverging form, as indicated at Il, the opposite sides I 8, iii oi the recess merging into the suptom oi the heater unit resting upon the supporting surfaces I3, I3, but preferably spacedslightly from the lugs I9.

The heater unit may be of any suitable construction, but preferably' comprises an inverted cup-shaped housing, the upper side of which constitutes the vulcanizing surface, as designated 22. The central portion of the upper vulcanizing surface 22 is preferably somewhat depressed as at 23 to t the base 2d of the rubber valve stem I6 which is of conventional form. As previously indicated, the heating unit 2 is provided with a central opening 25, which is also of a, size somewhat larger than the valve stem I6, and this opening 25 registers with opening I5 in the base aaoaioe I when the heater unit 2 is mounted on thebase by means oi the fastenings2 I.

l In order to assure firm contactertheme34 of the valve stem Il with the part to which it is Mounted in the heater/shell orhousing is an electrical heating element of any -suitable form; this heating element being designated 22 and extending about. the central opening' 25 in the I being shown as a relatively thin'annular element heater shell and disposed relatively close to the to be vulcanized, such as the inner tube generally designated 32, andthus insure Aa perfect vulcanized seal between the parts, I provide as usual the pressure platen l which may be clamped against the upper side of the inner tube 32, or other work piece as the case may be. The platen preferably includes a dat plate 33 of the approxor housing, with the heating element 28 completely imbedded within and enclosed by the upper wallof the shell, and leaving an annular space 21 ltherebelow. Within this annular space may bemounted a terminal block 28 to which the extension cord 29 leads for connecting the heating element 26 to any convenient outlet. Also disposed within the'space 21 is a thermostatic control element generally designated 30, the details of which have not been shown since they are immaterial to the present invention. It will be understood, however, that the electrical circuit includes a conductor leading from the terminal block 28 to one end of the heating element 26, and that the thermostatic control element 30 is interposed in a connection leading from 'the other end of the heating element 28 back to the terminal block 28. After the-'heater assembly has been made as just described, the lower side 4of the annular space 21 is preferably closed by a cover plate 3| which aids in confining the heat to the zone of the heating element 22,

and reduces direct radiation of heat ina downward direction. v.

When the valve stem I6, with or without the valve insides (not shown) mounted therein, and with or without the dust cap (also not shown) mounted thereon, is ydisposedin vulcanizing posii tion, with the base 24 of the valve stem seated on the upper side of the vulcanizing surface 22, and its outer or stem portion depending below the vulcanizing surface and disposed within the openings and I5 in the heater unit 2 and base I, respectively, air is permitted to freely circulate in a generally upward direction around the lower end of the valve stem and for a substantial length of Vthat portion of the` Vvalve stem in which' the` metal core is disposed, the core being designated l as I6'. The walls of the opening I5 form'what may b e said to be a chimney, and produce a strong upward circulation of air through the opening I5 by a chimney effect. The circulation have just described, the air will be heated to some extent at least in the recess I1 in the base I, iinmediately below the heater unit 2, but this air will not iiow Idownwardly for-any appreciabledistance, but on the contrary willtend toow laterally outwardly from the recess I1, and* thence of the air is aided by the natural tendency of heated air to rise. In the construction which Il generally upwardly about the sides of heater unit parts of the vulcanizer nearest the heater unit.

Thus it will be seen that the cold,I or

imate size of the heaterunit 2, with the lower side of the plate I3 faced with a resilient pad or cushion 36 to enable lit to conform to any irregularities in the work. The platen 3 isjconnected, preferably by means of a universal joint to the lower end of en diusting screw 4.' A simple form of such connection is shown inthe drawings as a'ball or spherical part 35 formed on the lowerend of the screw E and received in a socket formed by the upwardlyV extended radial web s 36 arranged on the upper side of the plate 33. The screw d is threaded in the forward extremity of the platen supporting arm 5 which extends over the central part of the heater unit 2, and the upper end of the screw has xed thereto a handwheel 31 or other appropriate form of handle by means of which the screw t may be screwed upwardly and downwardly at will to move the platen 3 away from or towards the vulcanizing surface 22 of the heater unit 2. 38 designates a lock nut to prevent loosening ofthe handwheel 31 which may be screwed onto the upper Y is moved out ofthe way sol that the valve 'stem I It andinner tube 3 2 may be conveniently placed in vulcanizing position preparatory to commencing the. vulcanizing voperation and removed from the vulcanizer after the vulcanizing operation has beencompleted.. Inorder 'to enable the platen Ito be pressedonclamped against the work, some provision must .be made to prevent the 'supporting arm S'from moving in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot 6 (as seen inv Figure l) when the pressure screw lliscrewed Yin .the pressure.' applying direction.:v For this purpose, the arm 5 is provided'with: an abutment -lug or offset 39 near the pivotal axis Vof the arm and at the side of the pivotal axis opposite to the platen 3. A cooperating abutmentmember generally designated 40 is provided on the base'I to engage beneath the abutment I9, and thus prevent any pivotal movement of the arm i5 in a counter-clockwise direction while the abutting engagement of these parts is maintained. The abutment member 40 isA preferably shiftable from the cooperative abutting position shown in full lines in Figure l,

to an inoperative or disengaged position as shown 1 l in dotted lines in this same iigures.r For this purpose, the abutment 40 preferably includes a part 4I which is pivotally attached to the base I by means of a pin 42.journalled for rotation -in the base, the 4pin 42 beingsuitably xed tothe part 4I as by means of a key or locking pin 43. For convenience of manipulation of the part 4I,

the pin 42 is preferably extended to one side of the part 4I at one side of the base I, and ter- -at patches.

minates in the form of a knob or handle as indicated at 46. 'I'he abutment 40 may be attached to the part dl in any suitable manner, but preferably in such manner that the free end of the abutment 5B may be adjusted towards and away from the axis of the pin 132. As one simple form of adjustment, the abutment d@ may be threaded into the part di and secured in adjusted position by a lock nut d5. This adjustment enables the restrained position of the platen supporting arm 5 to be varied at will, thus allowing the arm to be moved away from the vulcanizing surface of the heater unit to a greater or less extent than that represented by the full lines in Figure 1, before applying pressure to the platen.

It will be `understood from the foregoing that the adjustment of the pressure "screw is necessary only to secure the nal pressure adjustment of the platen against the work, and the usual release of such pressure preliminary to actuating the abutment 40 to its inoperative position in which it is disengaged from the abutment 3Q to allow the arm 5 to be moved so as to bring the platen to an out-of-the-way position. The pressure screw 6 is preferably provided with a double lead thread, as shown in the drawings, although this is not essential to my invention. However, with such a thread, the time required to eect the final pressure adjustment and initial release thereof is reduced to a minimum, while at the same time it prevents the application of too great a pressure on the platen, or such great pressure as might unduly strain or break the supporting arm or its connection to the base l.

By reason of the improved frame construction of my vulcanizer, as hereinbefore described, and especially the provision of the cooperating abutments 39 and l0 at th'e back of the arm 5 and base I respectively, the frame is always open and unobstructed at the front so that it readily permits repair of large work pieces, such as large inner tubes for truck and bus tires. These large tubes could be repaired, if at all, only with great diculty because of the limited space and presence of obstructing parts of the frame in some of the prior vulcanizers.

In addition to vulcanizing rubber valve stems, my vulcanizer is also adapted for use to vulcanize For this purpose, a flat plate is placed upon the vulcanizing surface 22 at the upper side of the heater unit 2, the plate preferably having a stemdepending from the lower side thereof for reception loosely in the openings 25 and I5 to prevent accidental displacement of the plate. Since this feature will be obvious to those skilled in the art and its use'is optional, it has not been illustrated in the drawings.

While the speciiic details of construction have been herein shown and described the invention is not confined thereto as changes and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A vulcanizer of the class described, comprising a base, a heater mounted on the base and having a vulcanizing surface, a pressure platen operatively related to the vulcanizing surface for clamping the Work against the base of a valve stem which is to be vulcanized to the work, and said heater and vulcanizer base having registering openings therein to receive the `valve stem, with the opening in the vulcanizer base in free communication with the atmosphere at a point between the lower end of the opening and said heater as well as at a point in the general zone of the lower end of the opening, to thereby provide a continuous circulation of relatively cool air through the opening in the vulcanizer base and at least about the free end of the valve stem.

2. A vulcanizer of the class described, comprising a heater having a vulcanizing surface provided with an opening to receive a valve stem with its base disposed on the vulcanizing surface and with the opposite end of the valve stem depending below the vulcanizing surface, a pressure platen operatively related to the vulcanizing surface for clamping the work against the base of the valve stem which is to be vulcanized to the work, and means below the vulcanizing surface forming an axially elongated chimney about the depending end of the valve stem and spaced therefrom, said chimney forming means being axially open to atmosphere in a downward direction to receive relatively cool air, and also having an air outlet disposed at the opposite end thereof.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vulcanizer base includes a plurality of spaced supports for the heater extending generally radi ally outward with respect to the axis of the valve stem receiving opening in the base, said spaced supports having upwardly diverging intermediate walls forming therebetween an enlarged chamber and intermediate outlets for the circulating air.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the chimney includes an enlarged chamber at its upper end across which the heater is arranged to substantially close the same in an upward direction, and the air outlet of the chimney opening generally laterally outward of the chamber below the heater.

5. A vulcanizer of the class described, comprising a heater of generally annular form having a vulcanizing surface at its upper side and a valve stem receiving opening extending axially therethrough,\a base for supporting said heater, said base being elongated and substantially narrower in width than the diameter of the heater vand formed with longitudinally spaced heater supporting surfaces of 'relatively small area for supporting contact with the heater at widely spaced points longitudinally of the base, said base also having an enlarged recess between and below said supporting surfaces, and a valve stem receiving opening extending from said recess through the bottom of the base in axial alignment with the valve stem receiving opening in the heater so that the valve stem will project into the opening through the base when it is disposed in vulcanizing position in the vulcanizer, and a pressure platen operatively associated with the vulcanizing surface of `the heater.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base of the vulcanizer extends diametrically across the bottom of the heater, and contacts the latter at diametrically opposite points only.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base of the vulcanizer is provided with a plurality of spaced lugs extending laterally therefrom between the heater supporting surfaces of the base and in spaced relation to the same, in combination with fastening means for connecting the heater to the lugs aforesaid.

8. Apparatus as'claimed in claim 5, wherein the base of the vulcanizer is provided with a plurality of spaced lugs extending laterally therefrom between the heater supporting surfaces of support and vulcanizer base elements for abutv the base `and in spaced relation to the same, in combination with detachable fastening means extending through the lugs aforesaid and into the heater for removably securing the heater to the base. s

9. A vulcanlzer of the class described, compris-1 ing a base, a heater mounted on the base and having avulcanizing surface, a pressure platen operatively associated with the vulcanizing surface of the heater, a platen support movably connected to the base so that the platen may be moved towards and away from the vulcanizing surface aforesaid, and separate adjustable means on one of the platen support and vulcanizer base elements movable'to abut the other element adjacent to the connection therebetween and restrain the platen support against movement in the direction of its movement away from the Vulcanizing surface during the application of pressure by the pressure platen.,

10. A vulcanizer oi' the class described, comprising a base, a heater mounted on the base and having a vulcanizing surface, a pressure platen operatively associated with the vulcanizing surface of the heater, a platen support pivotally connected to the base so that the platen may be swung towards and away from the vulcanizing lsurface aforesaid, and means on one of the platen ting the other element adjacent ,to the pivotal connection therebetween for' restraining the platen support against movement in one direction during the application of pressure by the pressure platen.

11. A vulcanizer of the class described, comprising a base, a heater mounted on the base and having a vulcanjzing surface, a pressure platen operatively associated with the vulcanizing surface of the heater, a platen support pivotally connected to the base in overhanging relation to the vulcanizing surface aforesaid, with the platen disposed at oneside of the pivotal axis of the platen support for movement towards and away from the vulcanizlng surface, and cooperating abutment means on the platen support and vulcanizer base respectively and arranged at the side of the 

